As I trek to and from work each day, it’s easy to forget the presence Random House holds in the public’s consciousness. I still get a thrill from the fact that both Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts uttered our company name in Stepmom, when I was in high school. And I admit that I barely glance around the impressive lobby as I make my way up to our Library Marketing office space most days.
So imagine my glee to watch the hilarious Kathy Griffin experience the thrill of entering the Random House offices. Her memoir, Official Book Club Selection, is coming in September and I’m so excited for it! That woman cracks me up, never fails.
Now, if I could just accomplish a real celebrity sighting here at work! I had thought it would be inevitable, but so far Bon Jovi, Martha Stewart, and ANDRE AGASSI have eluded me. And now Kathy Griffin, as well. I must spend far too much time at my desk…
Marcia, Dave, and I headed down to Houston for TLA’s 2009 conference earlier this month. We always have fun in Texas – thanks to all the wonderful librarians who stopped by our booth!
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni appeared on the AAP “Adult Books – Not Just for Grown-Ups Anymore” panel, where she spoke insightfully and with humor about her novels and how she came to be a writer. She was kept very busy at TLA this year, and her books remained a popular draw in our booth throughout the conference.
First novelist, John Pipkin, appeared at the “Evening with the Authors” dinner event. It was John’s first event in support of his first novel, Woodsburner. He was personable and well-spoken, receiving a warm welcome from the Texas librarians. We were also very excited to share with everyone the news of his Kirkusstarred review, which called it “Pulitzer Prize material!”
There was no way I was about to turn down a free pizza lunch with the author of one of my favorite books from the past few years, so I cancelled my day off yesterday and came in. Totally worth it. I don’t know what I would’ve done anyway. Probably just spent money needlessly.
Jesse Ball is the name of the author, and he was actually pretty close to how I’d imagined him: very quiet, very wise, very imaginative. You’d have to be all of these things in order to write books like Samedi the Deafness and The Way Through Doors. Word has it that, during the writing of Samedi, he took up residency in a little room in a castle in Scotland, pasting the pages he’d finished on the walls and ceilings. An essay in Powells explains his process a little more.
The lot of us having lunch with him here in the 20th floor conference room took turns asking questions and getting really fascinating answers. Jesse teaches creative writing at the Art Institute of Chicago, but doesn’t so much teach writing. He teaches them how to be more in tune, how to be “lightening rods,” as he put it. He also teaches a class on lying, and told us a story of one “dangerous” girl who’d won all three lying contests he’s held in class.
All this, including the end of lunch when he turned over his paper plate and drew a little monster on it for us, was endlessly entertaining. Be sure to check into getting him to come read at your library if you are in the Chicago area!
While attending ALA Midwinter in Denver last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Yarnell, author of GLORIOUS ONE-POT MEALS. This new title from Broadway Books features Elizabeth’s patented approach to easy cooking with a Dutch Oven. Ever since chatting with this charismatic and personable author, I am excited to try out my new Dutch Oven. It won’t collect dust any longer!
To learn more about Elizabeth Yarnell and her innovative cooking method visit her website.
I joined the throngs of people this week who were surprised and upset by the sudden death of John Updike.Not only because it made me think of my own mortality and how fragile life is, but because he was such a fixture in our publishing life here at Random House, Inc.EVERY year (almost) it seems there would be some offering from him and he has his first collection of short fiction in nine years appearing in June 2009, entitled My Father’s Tears and Other Stories.
In the 18 years I have been at Random House he was frequently requested to appear by libraries, foundations, state and national conventions.The first year I worked here and was just overwhelmed by author requests – several of them for him – I came back from an early lunch and discovered him standing in front of our building (at that time 1501 50th Street).For one insane moment I almost threw myself at his feet, intending to clutch his ankles, and beg him to solve my problems and appear at all those libraries that had requested him.Even after all those years I can still recall the effort it took NOT to do that rash act.Instead a mere “Hello Mr. Updike,” saved the moment.I did speak to him several times over the years, he did make library appearances, and I will continue to keep his address and phone number in my file.
To date, 347 NYT readers from all over the world (Paris, Armenia, Auckland, NZ…) have posted comments in response to the obituary and 99.5% of them were very admiring and sorrowful.The small minority needn’t have bothered to be mean-spirited.I suspect they are aspiring writers suffering from a blockage of their own talents.I will quote one post which seems to sum up the thoughts of most:
1/28, 12:48 p.m.“Mr. Updike probably knew every word in the dictionary and then some.No one wrote a better sentence.I will miss him terribly.I don’t know why but I feel sadder than I ought to.We’re not related or anything.There must be a connection between us.He wrote it, I read it.Hundreds of hours, maybe more.Rest in peace.”– Jim H., Mass.
With the wonderful news that attendance for this year’s Midwinter conference in Denver is on track, don’t miss what the Random House, Inc. booth #1220 has to offer!
A holiday video featuring the biggest and most beloved names in publishing, all sharing their reasons why books make great gifts, is a delightful reminder of how expansive and exciting the publishing world can be.
So many of my favorites, I couldn’t believe it! Maya Angelou, Dean Koontz, Barbara Walters, Cesar Milan and Christopher Paolini! I could go on – watch and see!
The 2008 National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush, will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2008, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 3rd and 7th streets from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public.
On Tuesday, September 16, the Association of American Publishers will launch the first of its Book Editors Online & Unscripted live web casts featuring the top editors in the industry previewing their Winter 2009 titles. Today the Association announced that retailers, media, and industry professionals who register for the web casts will have an opportunity to download chapter excerpts of the titles being presented in advance of the editors’ presentations.
The presentations are expected to spotlight some of the most talked-about and eagerly awaited titles for Winter 2009, with new authors taking center stage. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Publishers Weekly editor-in-chief Sara Nelson. Announced earlier in the summer by AAP, Book Editors Online & Unscripted will give book buyers and media the opportunity to hear about new titles via a flexible, economic format, without leaving their desks.
Random House, Inc. Editors:
Wednesday, Sept, 17, 12 – 12:30 pm: Bill Thomas, Editor In Chief and Publisher, Doubleday Publishing Group
Celebrate this year’s Teen Read Week theme, “Books with Bite @ your library®” by sinking your teeth into a meaningful new relationship. YALSA and AdLit.org are looking for the best Teen Read Week celebrations that involve significant collaboration between teachers and librarians.
Big Prizes
One winner will receive an author visit from Kimberly Pauley of Mirrorstone Books, Official Corporate Sponsor of Teen Read Week; another winner will receive a visit from author Geno Salvatore who will run a D&D game at the winning library, and five runners-up will each receive a $50 retail value prize package from YALSA and AdLit.org. The winning projects will be featured on AdLit.org and on the YALSA website.
How to Enter
Last year, thousands of libraries across the country held special events for Teen Read Week, encouraging teens to read something light and humorous—just for the fun of it! To enter the Best Teen Read Week Celebration Contest, plan a collaborative celebration that involves at least one teacher and one librarian working together to use young adult literature in an engaging way and leads teen to “read for the fun of it.”
YALSA and AdLit.org will also be looking for celebrations that articulate the theme, incorporate youth participation, are creative and are age appropriate. Please fill out the contest form and official rules (PDF). Entries, which include a 300 word description of your Teen Read Week Celebration, must be submitted to YALSA by November 7, 2008.
-Erica
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